Burglar alarm system for automotive vehicles and the like

ABSTRACT

A burglar alarm system for vehicles comprising an alarm device which is actuated by any one of three electrical switches when a key-operated switch inside the vehicle is closed, one of the three switches being operatively connected to the gas refill, a second to the trunk and a third to the hood. Each passenger door is also provided with a switch in the alarm circuit and they are selectively actuated by a second key-operated switch on a fender.

United States Patent Borgese et al.

I 3,740,712 1 June 19, 1973 BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLESAND THE LIKE [76] Inventors: Domenic Borgese; Frances Borgese,

both of 1620 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19148 22 Filed:Jan.7,1972 21 Appl. No.: 216,042

52 0.8. Cl 340/63, 307/l0.AT 51 Int. cI..... ..B60r 25/10 [58] Field ofSearch 340/63, 64, 65;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,172,080 3/1965 Webbetal'...340/63X Saliba et al. 340/63 X Tinsley et al. 340/63 PrimaryExaminerAlvin H. Waring Attorney-Arthur A. Jacobs 571' ABSTRACT Aburglar alarm system for vehicles comprising an' alarm device which isactuated by any one of three electrical switches when a key-operatedswitch inside the vehicle is closed, one of the three switches beingoperatively connected to the gas refill, a second to the trunk and athird to the hood. Each passenger door is also provided with a switch inthe alarm circuit and they are selectively actuated by a secondkey-operated switch on a fender.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLESAND THE LIKE ingly prevelant. Locking the doors and trunk of the ve- Ihicles is no longer any great protection since those persons engaged incar thefts have developed many ingenious methods of opening such lockedcars.

In view of the above, it has become increasingly important to develop aneffective burglar alarm system and many attempts have been made in thatdirection. However, such prior attempts always had one or moredisadvantages. In this respect, they were rarely tamperproof and couldeasily be inactivated by the experienced burglar. In those few instanceswhere some degree of tamper-resistance was provided, they were usuallyhighly complex and expensive and could only be installed in the vehiclewith considerable difficulty and expense. Furthermore, few of such priorsystems were really effective.

It is an object of the present invention'to provide a burglar alarmsystem for vehicles and other exposed facilities which istamper-resistant and yet relatively simple in construction, easytoinstall or replace, and inexpensive to produce.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a burglar alarmsystem of the aforesaid type which is highly effective and simple touse.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this-inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

The single FIGURE of the drawing is a schematic view of an. electricalburglar alarm system embodyingthe present invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, there is shown anelectrical network comprising a motor winding adaptedto operate a siren(not shown) when energized. The winding 10. is in circuit through line12 with one terminal 14 of a key-operated control switch 16 which alsohas a terminal 18. The control switch 16 is normally open and is closedby turning a key in key-hole 20 on a cam 22. Turning the cam 22 actstopush switch element 24 against the terminals 14 and l8'to close theswitch. Although a cam-operated switch is here illustrated, any otherfeasible type of keyoperated switch means may be substituted, ifdesired. The terminal 18 of switch 16 is connected to a battery 26through a fuse 28, the battery acting as the source of energy forenergizing the winding 10 of the motor. The switch 16 is located insidethe vehicle on the instrument panel.

lnterposed in the circuit between the switch 16 and the battery 26 is alamp 30 in circuit with a switch 32 on the door for the gas refill cap.The switch 32 is normally open when the door for the gas refill cap isclosed. When the door is opened, the switch 32 is closed andenergizes'the lamp 30. The lamp 30 is mounted on the instrument panel.Preferably, magnetic latches are provided on the door for the gas refillcap to prevent the door from bouncing open while the car is in motion.

Also mounted on the instrument panel are a pair of lamps 34 and-36.These lamps 34 and 36 are each controlled by a respective rheostat, asat 38 and 40, in order to vary the intensity of the current flowingtherethrough, these rheostats being so mounted on the instrument panel.In the system illustrated, the maximum intensity drawn through each lampis approximately 0.] amps milliamps).

The lamp 34 is in circuit with the motor-winding 10 through lead line 42and is also in circuit with switch 44 connected to the door for the gasrefill cap, the switch 46 connected to the trunk lid and the switch 48connected to the hood. In addition, the lamp 34 is connected through alock-type switch 50, controlled by a cam 52 having a key-hole 54, to thelamp 36 as well as switches 56, 58, 60 and 62 which are mounted on therespective four doors of the vehicle. The switch 50 is mounted on afender so that it is accessible from outside the vehicle.

A lock-up relay 64 is arranged in parallelwith the motor winding 10 andcontrols a contact 66, the contact 66 being in circuit with the lamp 34.The current flowing through the lamps 34 and 36 will not be sufficientto energize the relay 64. However, when the alarm is activated, therelay 64 is activiated to close the contact 66. The closing of thecontact 66 acts to short out the lamp circuit and, therefore, the lamps34 and 36 will be extinguished.

In the operation of the system, when the driver leaves the car, he'firstturns the key to close switch 16. This closes the circuit between themotor winding 10 and the battery 26 and energizes the lamp 34, theintensity of the lamp 34 being adjusted as desired by the rheostat 38.At this time, the switches 44, 46, and 48 for the gas refill cap, trunklid and hood, respectively, are in the alarm circuit, whereby openingany of these parts would trigger the alarm. However, the vehicle doorsand the lamp 36 are not in the alarm circuit at this time, so that thedoors may be opened and the vehicle may be driven without triggering thealarm. On the other hand, if any attempt were made to open the trunk orhood or if any attempt were made to open the door for the gas refill,the alarm would be triggered.

When the driver wishes to place the entire system, including the doors,into the operative condition, as, for example, when he wishes to parkthe vehicle for the night, he moves the key-operated switch 50 into theclosed position. This closes the circuit betweenthe motor winding 10,the lamp 36 and the door switches 56, 58, 60 and 62. The lamp 36 thenglows to indicate that the doors are now operatively connected into thealarm circuit. Since the key-operated switch 36 is located on one of thefenders, it is accessible to the driver when he wishes to remove thedoors from the alarm circuit. However, even though accessible, it wouldstill provide a barrier to a prospective burglar because it would stillrequire a key to operate it.

Among the advantages of this system are the following: The lamps 34 and36 not only provide an indication when their respective switches areoperative in the alarm network, but also indicate if there is adefective component, such as a defective fuse, wiring, rheostat, siren,etc. anywhere in the circuit. They also indicate if there has been anytampering. The lamp 30 acts as a warning light to indicate that the doorfor the gas refill cap is open. The switch 16 should not be closed whilethe lamp 30 is glowing. If a burglar attempts to damage or remove theswitch 50 while the network is energized or attempts to sever the leadsof the alarm circuit, if the lead from the motor winding should touchthe chassis ground, the alarm would be activated.

If the driver should forget to close the switch 50 on retiring for thenight, as long as switch 16 is closed, a burglar cannot open either thehood, the trunk or the door for the gas refill cap without triggeringthe alarm.

The present system is ideal for armored trucks. For example, the driverof such a truck would first close switch 50 while leaving switch 16open. He would then enter' the truck and close switch 16. Thereafter, ifsomeone should attempt to enter the truck while he was in it, suchforceable entry would trigger the alarm. The same procedure can be usedfor mail trucks, pickup and delivery trucks or other vehicles of similarnature.

The invention claimed is:

1. A burglar alarm system for vehicles and the like comprising a motorfor activating an alarm signal, said motor including a winding havingone end in circuit with a source of electrical energy through a firstkeyoperated switch and the other end in circuit with a plurality ofswitch means, each switch means being operatively connected to a meansof ingress on a vehicle and at least one lamp being interposed in thecircuit between said winding and said plurality of switch means, saidplurality of switch means comprising 'a switch means operativelyconnected to the door for the refill cap of a vehicle, a switch meansoperatively connected to the trunk of the vehicle, a switch meansoperatively connected to the hood of the vehicle, and a switch meansoperatively connected to each door of the vehicle, the switch means foreach door of the vehicle being selectively placed into and out of theoperative alarm circuit by a second key-operated switch.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said second operated switch is locatedon a fender of vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein a second lamp is in circuit betweensaid second key-operated switch and the switch means operativelyconnected to each door of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of said lamps is provided withmeans to selectively adjust the intensity of the current flowingtherethrough.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein a signal lamp circuit is providedbetween said source of electrical energy and the door for the refillcap, said signal lamp circuit including a signal switch constructed andarranged to open when said door is closed and to close when said door isopened, and a lamp interposed in said signal lamp circuit between saidsignal switch and said source of electrical energy.

1. A burglar alarm system for vehicles and the like comprising a motorfor activating an alarm signal, said motor including a winding havingone end in circuit with a source of electrical energy through a firstkey-operated switch and the other end in circuit with a plurality ofswitch means, each switch means being operatively connected to a meansof ingress on a vehicle and at least one lamp being interposed in thecircuit between said winding and said plurality of switch means, saidplurality of switch means comprising a switch means operativelyconnected to the door for the refill cap of a vehicle, a switch meansoperatively connected to the trunk of the vehicle, a switch meansoperatively connected to the hood of the vehicle, and a switch meansoperatively connected to each door of the vehicle, the switch means foreach door of the vehicle being selectively placed into and out of theoperative alarm circuit by a second key-operated switch.
 2. The systemof claim 1 wherein said second operated switch is located on a fender ofvehicle.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein a second lamp is in circuitbetween said second key-operated switch and the switch means operativelyconnected to each door of the vehicle.
 4. The system of claim 3 whereineach of said lamps is provided with means to selectively adjust theintensity of the current flowing therethrough.
 5. The system of claim 1wherein a signal lamp circuit is provided between said source ofelectrical energy and the door for the refill cap, said signal lampcircuit including a signal switch constructed and arranged to open whensaid door is closed and to close when said door is opened, and a lampinterposed in said signal lamp circuit between said signal switch andsaid source of electrical energy.